Plumbing Tips: What To Do If Your Toilet Sweats

Learn how you can eradicate toilet-sweating problems and keep your toilet tank free from condensation by adopting several helpful suggestions.

A sweating toilet can be not only a nuisance but it can also spoil the decor of your bathroom. The problem arises when the temperature of the water flowing through the pipes, leading into the toilet tank is colder than the air in the bathroom. Condensation occurs on the toilet tank and droplets form. This situation is usually more prevalent during the summer months when the weather is hot and humid. It is also more noticeable in homes that are supplied with cold well water that is pumped from hundreds of feet below the surface. This cold water circulates and fills the toilet tank in the warm bathroom, resulting in condensation on the tank. If you would like to know what you could do to rectify toilet-sweating problems, here are some helpful suggestions:

The simplest way to fix a sweating toilet is to install a toilet liner kit. This kit contains a Styrofoam paneling that is placed all around the inside of the tank. The kit can be purchased at hardware stores and some department stores. When you are ready to install the liner, turn off the water supply to the toilet. Drain and clean the entire inside of the tank. Then cut the panels to the correct size and attach them to the inside of the tank. The Styrofoam will act as an insulator and serve as a buffer against condensation. You can also place a "jacket" over the outside of the toilet tank to absorb excess moisture.

In addition to installing a toilet liner, you might also want to consider placing a dehumidifier in your home, especially if it has a basement. Basements are humidity collectors. The relative humidity in your home should be in the 30-60% range. A home dehumidifier will regulate humidity and make condensation less likely to occur. Place the dehumidifier in your basement or if you have a really bad toilet-sweating problem, place it near your bathrooms.

Proper ventilation and air circulation is also important to maintain an appropriate balance of air moisture and temperature. Use air conditioning during the summer months. If your bathrooms are equipped with individual temperature controls, keep them slightly colder than the rest of the house. This will make the air temperature of the bathroom comparable with the colder water temperature in your toilet tank. You should also turn on the exhaust fan in your bathroom whenever you have a shower. This will decrease steam and humidity.

Another option is to have a plumbing company install a mixing or temper valve. This is a valve that is used to mix heated water with cold in the heating system to provide the desired water temperature. The valve is usually installed at the line that transports water (usually from the basement) to the toilet. When the temper valve is installed, the water flowing through the pipes and into the toilet tank will be similar to the temperature of the surrounding air in the bathroom.

You can also install a holding tank in your home. The holding tank retains extra water at room temperature and refills the water whenever the pressure falls beneath a designated level. When the water fills your toilet tank, the water temperature will not be extreme but warm. This will eliminate condensation and correct excessive moisture build-up on the tank.

If you adopt all or one of the above suggestions you will eradicate toilet-sweating problems and keep your toilet tank free of unwanted condensation.